Substances that can froth. These include detergents, shampoos, and soaps. These lightweight substances can reach your airways and lungs if you try to throw up, causing inflammation, swelling, and burns.

Solid or sharp objects. These include buttons, coins, toys, or rings. The objects could scratch your throat, make cuts, cause injuries, or get stuck in your airways.

Petroleum products. These include gasoline, solvents, kerosene, paint thinner and other flammable products. There’s a high risk of these substances reaching your airways if you vomit, which can cause tears and burns in your throat, mouth, and esophagus.

Do NOT throw up as a weight-loss method. Doing so can lead to eating disorders, such as bulimia, that can cause severe malnutrition, damage your teeth, and endanger your life.

However, there’s controversy over the safety of ipecac, since it can be toxic in high doses. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not to stock it at home. To prevent side effects, drink only in small amounts.

Follow these steps if you have decided to take ipecac:

Follow the directions on the syrup bottle.

Drink 1 to 2 glasses of water or 8 to 16 ounces after taking ipecac syrup.

Mustard Solution

A mustard solution is meant to work in a similar way to the salt water solution. The method is to mix one tablespoon of mustard spread in a glass of warm water, drink the solution, and wait 30 minutes for it to take effect.

The unpleasant taste should make you feel like throwing up. As of right now, there’s no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness or guarantee its safety.

Bloodroot Herb

Bloodroot is a medicinal herb that was used by Native Americans to treat fever, cancers, and induce vomiting. The method consists of boiling 1 teaspoon of bloodroot roots in one cup of water. After boiling, let it steep for 20 minutes, strain the tea, and drink it warm.

However, bloodroot has toxic components that make it unsafe to use. High concentrations of bloodroot can cause death. Consult with your physician before trying bloodroot.

Overeating

Some websites advise overeating as a way to induce nausea and vomiting. This method is highly ineffective because it can promote the absorption and digestion of the substances you’re trying to get rid of in the first place. If you can’t vomit by overeating, you’ll only end up bloated and with severe discomfort.

The Side Effects Of Throwing Up

Photo credit: Abigail Steidley

Throwing up can have the following effects on your body:

Dehydration. Your body loses significant water content when you vomit.

Burns in the esophagus. The stomach acid can cause inflammation, swelling, and burns in your esophagus. This is called esophagitis.

Aspiration. Some of the vomit can reach your airways and lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration can cause swelling and infections in your airways.

Tears in the esophagus. This is a severe side effect that happens less often. If you vomit violently and forcefully, the esophagus could tear. Esophageal rupture can cause saliva, food, and vomit to leak into the chest cavity. This condition needs to be addressed by a doctor.

What To Do After Throwing Up

It’s important to help your body and digestive tract recover from the effects of vomiting.

Rest

Vomiting makes your body lose nutrients and fluids. Therefore, you need time to rest and recover. Stay in bed and take naps to allow your body to heal.

Conclusion

Throwing up can be a good method of removing toxins and harmful substances you have ingested, however, it should be done as a last resort and after consulting your physician.

Never use this technique as a weight-loss method.

Don’t make yourself throw up if you swallowed corrosive substances. In this case, contact your doctor immediately.

Only induce vomit if you have food poisoning or if you have ingested non-corrosive poison.

The best three methods to make yourself throw up are: using your index finger to induce your gag reflex, watch other people vomit to stimulate nausea, or take an emetic, such as ipecac syrup.

Avoid untested folk remedies for inducing vomiting, such as salt water, mustard water, and bloodroot, as they can cause harmful side effects.

Vomiting can harm your upper digestive tract, so make sure to take care of your body after you’ve managed to throw up the dangerous substances that were making you ill.

Self-induced vomiting can also make your body become prone to it. The human body is great at adapting to changes, sometimes developing a habit out of them. Your body might become used to throwing up on its own, which can cause further issues in the future.